IN THIS ISSUE
THE NEED
Muslims are an integral part of the American fabric. From the Muslim explorers and Muslim slaves to today's vibrant Muslim communities across the country, Muslim Americans have been playing a role in shaping the American venture. Our students are the next generation of leaders. They should have the opportunity to study and learn about the history, culture, society, politics and theology of Islam and Muslims in America. They should be able to learn about the people and the religion as integral parts of the American experience, not as something alien.
We can help make this happen by creating Endowed Chair positions in Muslim American Studies in our universities. This will be an invaluable contribution to the education and cultural life of America.
Islam's contribution to the West has been largely overlooked in Western societies, and especially in America. In recent years Islam and Muslims have been demonized in media and politics. One important way to combat negative stereotypes is to educate our students about Islam and Muslims in the context of Western civilization.
It is time for Islam and Muslims to be studied and taught as American phenomena at American universities. This is particularly important in the post-9/11 world because of the risk of portraying Muslims as the enemy and Islam as a hostile religion.
THE CHAIR
An Endowed Chair in Muslim American Studies will be a tremendously important addition to the Faculty at Indiana University and will stand at the center of its efforts to examine and increase knowledge of Islam's rich traditions and cultures and of Muslims in the West, and especially in America.
An established and distinguished scholar, who will engage in interdisciplinary research and teaching, will occupy this position. The chair-holder will build a critical mass of teaching, research and outreach, and will have an opportunity to provide future leaders of our society with a better understanding of Islamic cultures and communities. This scholar will also help train the next generation of teachers and researchers who will shape our understanding of Islam and Muslim Americans.
An investment of $1,000,000 is required to establish an endowed academic chair position in Indiana University.
DONOR RECOGNITION
Indiana University appreciates and recognizes its supporters. The best reward of your contribution to this project is of course the knowledge and satisfaction that you have made a difference in the future of our students and that you have been instrumental in shaping the future of Muslim American studies in one of the top-ranked public universities in America. Nevertheless, the University publicly thanks its major donors through different programs, such as 'The Presidents Circle,' 'The Arbutus Society,' 'The Well House Society' and other programs.
WHY INDIANA UNIVERSITY?
Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington is the principal campus of the Indiana University system. IU is one of 60 members of the Association of American Universities, the leading American research universities. According to The Public Ivies: America's Flagship Public Universities (2001) by Howard and Matthew Greene, Indiana University is one of America's "Public Ivy" institutions of higher education, defined by the authors as a public institution that "provides an Ivy League collegiate experience at a public school price." IU has 110 programs ranked in the nation's top 20. Twenty-nine graduate programs and four schools at Indiana University are ranked among the top 25 in the country in the US News & World Report's Best Graduate Schools 2001-2002. Time magazine named Indiana University its "2001 College of the Year" among major research universities. Newsweek named Indiana University "the hottest big state school in the nation" in 2005. Many of local, state and national leaders have been trained at IU, and that tradition is kept alive by the superb educational opportunities provided at this "Public Ivy."
MAI FOUNDATION
The Endowed Chair project is managed by the MAI Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) foundation that works to empower Muslim Americans in the fields of education, civic engagement, and the public sphere.
The MAI Foundation was established by the Muslim Alliance of Indiana. The Foundation protects the confidentiality of donors and invests in projects based on their instructions.
The very first project of MAI Foundation is to establish the Endowed Chair in Muslim American Studies at Indiana University.
HOW TO DONATE
Please feel free to contact us with any questions and also to learn how you can support the Endowed Chair in Muslim American Studies at Indiana University.
You can mail your tax-deductible donation to:
MAI Foundation
8945 Classic View Dr.
Indianapolis, IN 46217
Please make your check payable to "MAI Foundation for Endowed Chair"
CONTACT INFORMATION
Dr. Ibad Ansari
phone: 317-319-0462
email: ibadansari@comcast.net
Professor Faiz Rahman (Chair)
phone: 812-360-9291
email: farahman@indiana.edu
Professor Abdulkader Sinno
phone: 812-219-8753
email: asinno@indiana.edu
According to a recent Pentagon transcript of military tribunal, al-Qaida mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, or KSM, has admitted to decapitating Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl by his own hand. KSM is also reported to have confessed as being the planner of 9-11, the Bali nightclub bombing, the 1993 World Trade Center attack, assassination attempts on U.S. presidents and many other terrorist operations, more than 30 altogether. Little is new in these confessions, but there are some descriptions in this transcript that may deserve further attention.
The transcript says that KSM considers his actions as "part of jihad." But that statement is not true. Jihad in Islam is a highly regarded act of worship. Its literal meaning is "struggle." One needs to struggle against one's own evil desires, social ills and oppression. Islam allows taking up of arms in fights against oppression, but with the condition that one would never turn into an oppressor in that struggle.
Armed struggle against oppressors can only be taken as a last resort and be declared by a legitimate authority, not by an individual. Additionally, killing or harming of noncombatants is categorically prohibited in Islam, both by the revealed texts in the Koran and also by the orders of Prophet Muhammad. Killing of one innocent life is compared in the Koran as equivalent to killing the whole humanity. So, KSM was doing absolutely no "jihad" in killing innocent people. Rather, if his statements are true, he was doing a heinous crime against humanity and the teachings of Islam.
The transcript also says that KSM mentioned, "I decapitated with my blessed right hand the head of the American Jew, Daniel Pearl." This sensational part of the transcript has been reported in almost all news media, print and electronic. The declassified transcript shows that this quote is narrated by a military representative, not KSM himself. In contrast to the incoherent and broken sentences that KSM utters during the tribunal, this quote is quite coherent and descriptive. It has the anti-Semitic, anti-American leaning, and it also glorifies the use of the right hand as "blessed."
According to Islamic teachings, the right hand should be used in performing good deeds. If KSM did actually kill Pearl, it was not a good deed. It was a cowardly and criminal act perpetrated against a helpless captive. The Koran mentions that intentional killing of an innocent person ensures the eternal punishment for the perpetrator; it does not matter if the killing was done with the right or left hand. The hands of a murderer are no way "blessed." Also, there is nothing Islamic in being anti-Semitic or anti-American. Rather, the Koran teaches that Jews and Christians are people of the "Book," and asks Muslims to deal with them with justice and good will.
The 9-11 commission had reported that KSM has the tendency to exaggerate the truth. A senior U.S. intelligence official has also reportedly mentioned that there may be an element of bravado in the comments. Whether bravado or not, KSM and his people distort the teachings of Islam to fit their own agendas. In that process they cause harm to common people of all faiths, and also give ammunition to the Islamophobes who use these distorted messages to malign Islam and Muslims.
The decision by the FBI's Indianapolis office to bring in author Robert Spencer to talk to its anti-terrorism task force has a Plainfield-based Muslim organization concerned that the bureau is listening to an "Islamophobe" who distorts its faith.
The FBI had planned to bring in Spencer this week to speak to Indiana's Joint Terrorism Task Force. His appearance was postponed because he had a scheduling conflict. Both Spencer and the FBI hope to reschedule.
Louay Safi, director of leadership development with the Plainfield-based Islamic Society of North America, said bringing Spencer in to talk of Islam is akin to bringing an anti-Semite to talk about Jews or a Ku Klux Klan member to talk about race.
"Many people in our community will not be happy with it," Safi said.
Spencer is the author of "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam" and "The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion." He is also a director of Jihad Watch, a Web site that calls attention to the activity of Islamic jihadists.
The site includes his take on various writings by Islamic scholars and groups as well as the news of the day in the Middle East. In fact, he announced he was coming to Indianapolis to meet with FBI officials.
Safi said Spencer's writings take selected passages from Islamic writings out of context in an effort to prove the religion condones terrorism. He said the FBI's use of Spencer could reinforce views some Muslims hold that the bureau treats them unfairly.
"When they bring in someone like that, it makes it difficult even for us to explain to the Muslim community that (the FBI) is neutral and is not listening to extremists who really hate Muslims," Safi said.
Spencer said he is not an "Islamophobe," and that he understands a majority of Muslims are peaceful. But he said there is no mistaking that modern-day jihadists from Osama bin Laden to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi cite the teachings of Islam in rationalizing their attacks.
"Maybe Osama bin Laden is misusing the Quran, but the Islamic Society of North America has never formed a response to the way he misuses it," Spencer said.
Instead of facing up to the crisis within Islam, Muslim leaders too often aim criticism at those who point out these problems, Spencer said.
Special Agent Wendy Osborne, a spokeswoman for the FBI's Indianapolis office, said being able to understand various "ideological positions" is an indispensable tool for investigators. Previously, the bureau has consulted leaders of Muslim groups.
"Who are we to judge what his thoughts are?" Osborne said. "I think we can just learn from individuals."
Call Star reporter Robert King at (317) 444-6089.
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Robert Spencer's writings
Here are some excerpts from Spencer's Web site, www.jihadwatch.org:
About jihad
"Violent jihad is a constant of Islamic history. Many passages of the Quran and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad are used by jihad warriors today to justify their actions and gain new recruits. No major Muslim group has ever repudiated the doctrines of armed jihad." -- Permanent part of his Web site
'Islamophobia'
"And what is 'Islamophobia,' anyway? I discussed one attempt to define it here. But I think for most people it just boils down to an irrational hatred of Muslims. This is, of course, absurd. There is neither irrationality nor hatred in anything I write. I am doing this in defense of universally accepted human right" -- Posted 11:30 a.m. Friday
Religious origin
"Although I am not in fact Jewish, I have been frequently labeled as such by Muslim spokesmen who evidently can't conceive of a non-Jewish opponent of jihad ideology. . . . One day perhaps such Muslim writers will awaken to the fact that the jihad ideology . . . (has) won them a considerably larger spectrum of opponents than they care to imagine." -- Jan. 19, 2005
About Spencer
Title: Director of Jihad Watch, a project of the David Horowitz Freedom Center, and the author of two best-selling books on Islamic jihad.
Background: Spencer is a writer and researcher who has written six books and more than 200 articles about jihad and Islamic terrorism. His latest book is "The Truth About Muhammad."
Education: Master's degree in religious studies, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Television/Radio: He has made televised appearances on the BBC, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, PBS and C-SPAN, and he has been a guest on numerous radio programs, including Bill O'Reilly's "Radio Factor," "The Laura Ingraham Show," Bill Bennett's "Morning in America" and Michael Savage's "Savage Nation."
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PLAINFIELD - Career Zones: The Tutoring Pro is a family business that aims to give back to the community. Nearing the conclusion of its second year in business, Career Zones is owned by Anwar Khan, who also owns one of the leading tutoring centers in Pakistan.
His wife, Afshan Khan, is the chief executive officer of the business, and their daughters also play active roles in the company. Mariyam Khan is president, Shejea Khan is vice-president, and Arishaa Khan is in charge of the creative aspects.
Career Zones originally opened because Mariyam and Shejea, both graduates of Plainfield High School and members of the National Honor Society, saw a growing need in the community for a tutoring center. The sisters, along with 2005 PHS Valedictorian Carrie Thomas and National Merit Scholar Lindsay Dunlap, helped to get the business going.
The center offers several programs including K-12 prep, IStep prep, and SAT prep. It uses current high school students that are in the top 20 of their class, National Merit Scholars, or valedictorians, as tutors. Shejea said they use high schoolers because students look up to them as role models, and because they can generally connect with students easier than they can with older adults.
Mariyam said most students come to the center for the K-12 prep, which is taught using a program by McGraw Hill called PassKey. When they first come in, students are given a free diagnostic test to see what their weaknesses and strengths are within different subjects. The test is repeated one or two times a month to readjust each student's individual program.
"Our program is unique because we interact with different school counselors and teachers to check the progress of the students," Mariyam said.
The center has a high success rate. Mariyam said 99 percent of the 70 students who have gone through the program have improved their grades through various techniques.
Shejea added that most students struggle with math and reading the most.
"They especially struggle with math because they miss the building blocks from the previous grade," she said.
Career Zones offers classes at several price levels. For one subject, students spend two hours with a tutor and two hours working at home for $90 a week. For two subjects, students spend three hours with a tutor and three hours working at home for $130 a week. For three or more subjects, students spend four and a half hours with a tutor and four and a half hours working at home for $180 a week. One-on-one tutoring is also available for students who may need extra help with homework or studying for a test for $25 an hour.
Although tutoring is usually thought to be for students struggling in school, Shejea said that isn't necessarily the case.
"There are three levels to each letter grade," she said. "There's the low end, average, and the high end. There's always room for improvement."
Mariyam said the center plans to offer free basic computer classes for seniors in the near future, as a way of giving back to the community.
Career Zones: The Tutoring Pro is at 212 E. Main St., Plainfield, across from Dairyland. Hours are 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and by appointment on Friday and Saturday.
For more information, call 837-9603.
Socially responsible investing has become increasingly popular in recent years, with lots of mutual funds available for investors who want to keep their portfolios in line with their ethical beliefs. Most such funds avoid alcohol and tobacco stocks, but what they do beyond that varies quite a bit from fund to fund. Probably the fastest-growing subset of SRI funds is religious mutual funds, most of which are tailored to members of a specific denomination or religion, and some of which are associated with organized churches. Such funds have grown from less than $500 million in total assets 10 years ago to more than $17 billion today.
Like the broader category of SRI mutual funds, religious funds vary quite a bit in the screening criteria they use, though there are some broad similarities. They can be divided into three main categories: Catholic funds, Protestant funds, and Islamic funds. These funds won't necessarily perform better than their mainstream peers, and they can be pricier to boot. But they can give peace of mind to those who prefer not to own investments that conflict with their religious beliefs. . .
Islamic Funds
Our final group of religiously oriented funds are those that invest according to Islamic principles. Some of these funds' screening criteria are similar to those used by many of the Christian funds we saw above, including prohibitions on alcohol, tobacco, gambling, and pornography. However, they also feature some restrictions based on Islamic law and not found in most Christian denominations, notably prohibitions against pork and paying or receiving interest. Avoiding companies involved in pork production is not too hard, but avoiding interest is harder, given its ubiquity in the world financial system. These funds generally avoid financial companies, where interest is central to the business, and try to minimize the importance of interest in the rest of their portfolios.
The largest and most successful Islamic mutual funds are Amana Trust Growth (NASDAQ:AMAGX - News) and Amana Income (NASDAQ:AMANX - News), whose combined asset base has risen from $37 million in 2002 to around $450 million today. Both funds are managed by Nick Kaiser of Saturna Capital, who is aided by assistant manager Monem Salam and a panel of Islamic scholars. Not only does Kaiser avoid financials, he also avoids companies that have too much debt on their balance sheet or that get more than 5% of their revenue from any of the forbidden activities noted above. He also doesn't trade much, partly because of his long-term investment perspective but also because excessive stock trading would be considered a form of gambling, which is forbidden by the Koran. None of this has hurt the funds' results; in fact, they have put up great numbers, with Amana Growth sporting one of the best records in the large-growth category over the trailing three-, five-, and 10-year periods. Kaiser was one of the finalists for Morningstar's Domestic-Stock Manager of the Year in 2006.
The Azzad funds--Azzad Ethical Mid Cap (NASDAQ:ADJEX - News) and the large-growth Azzad Ethical Income (NASDAQ:AEIFX - News)--are much smaller than the Amana funds, with only $4 million apiece in assets, but they are based on similar principles. Manager Omar Bassal uses proprietary software to screen out companies that get significant revenue from alcohol, tobacco, any meat products, gambling, pornography, interest, "unethical forms of entertainment," and weapons of mass destruction. The screens also explicitly eliminate all banks, financial services, and insurance, but the Ethical Income fund has a significant stake in real estate investment trusts, which Morningstar classifies as financials. Azzad also uses shareholder advocacy to advance its views and contributes to charities such as the Arab Orphan Committee and the Boston Police Relief Association.
Finally, the Dow Jones Islamic Fund (NASDAQ:IMANX - News) is advised by Allied Asset Advisors, a subsidiary of the North American Islamic Trust. At least 80% of the fund's assets are invested in stocks from the Dow Jones Islamic Market Index and the Dow Jones Islamic Market U.S. Index, with the rest chosen by manager Bassam Ossman from companies that are also compliant with Islamic principles. These indexes are determined by a Shariah Advisory Board using principles similar to what we have just seen: They eliminate companies whose primary business involves alcohol, tobacco, pork, interest, weapons, and all entertainment, including gambling, movies, hotels, and pornography.
(Washington, DC - 3/16/07) -- The Muslim Public Affairs Council today commended the Department of Homeland Security for offering testimony before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, in which officials discussed the positive role of Muslim American communities. DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff and Daniel Sutherland, Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, stressed the need for enhanced engagement between the government and American Arab, Muslim, Sikh and South Asian communities as a key toward improved security.
SEE: "U.S. Officials Want More Outreach to American Arabs, Muslims" (Los Angeles Times, 3/15/07)
Homeland Security Committee Chairman, Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and Ranking Member Susan Collins (R-ME) presided over the hearing Wednesday, which was entitled "The Threat of Islamic Radicalism to the Homeland."
"This hearing is an excellent beginning in the way that government agencies should foster dialogue with Muslim communities, even though the title of hearing did not suggest that the discussion in the hearing would be constructive and nuanced," said MPAC Executive Director, Salam Al-Marayati, who attended the hearing yesterday. "The best ways for the US government to counter radicalization are to promote the integration of American Muslims into American pluralism and to offer opportunities for civic engagement".
Secretary Chertoff began his testimony by making the point that while extremism and radicalization is a large concern among European Muslim communities, this is not a phenomenon that we are observing in the United States. He explained that the American Muslim community is a strength for the United States:
"Although much of my discussion will deal with violent Islamic extremists, I want to emphasize that those who support the use of violence to achieve their goals represent a small, fringe element within the American Muslim community. It is critical that we recognize that American Muslims have been, and will continue to be, a highly valued part of the fabric of our Nation. American Muslims have been outspoken in their opposition to terrorist violence and have been strong contributors to our country for many generations."
In fact, Secretary Chertoff on more than one occassion was specific in distinguishing a violent extremist ideology that is the treat to the homeland and the religion of Islam.
In further testimony, Dan Sutherland stated the goal of the Department is to "develop, cultivate, and maintain partnerships with key leaders of the American Arab, Muslim, Sikh and South Asian communities" and encouraged the dialogue that is already underway through various educational and community initiatives.
Senator Lieberman stated that the goals of the hearing were to detect, deter and defeat the threat of extremism within the homeland, adding that he wanted to reassure the Muslim American community that the war against extremism is not a war with Islam. Senator Collins stated that the American government must build a level of confidence and trust with the American Muslim community. She also stated that it is a priority of the committee to make the hearts and minds of our Muslim neighbors a priority and that the government should work to ensure that faithful Muslims are allies in this process.
Several Senators, particularly Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) of Missouri, asked Secretary Chertoff to speak out against anti-Muslim hate speech are spouted from talk shows. Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas also showed concern and compassion to American Muslims by stating that they are treated as second-class citizens in the U.S. and wants to see an amelioration of this problem. Senator Jon Testor of Montana offered the scenario that war against Iran would increase radicalization. MPAC thanks these Senators and the full committee for initiating a very important discussion and awaits the Muslim voice to be injected in this discourse.
[CONTACT: Edina Lekovic, 213-383-3443, communications@mpac.org]
An ecumenical delegation of religious leaders recently returned from Tehran with a clear recommendation: the U.S. should engage with Iran directly to find a solution to the nuclear standoff.
Intervening militarily in Iran rather than pursuing diplomacy could have the same effect as our military intervention in Iraq. It is the responsibility of Congress to assure that our nation does not recklessly launch a military attack on Iran.
In order to limit the likelihood of war with Iran, the House leadership designed a provision to require the President to receive Congressional approval before taking military action on Iran. But on Monday, House leadership deleted the "No War with Iran" provision from the Iraq supplemental funding bill.
Without this provision, Congress would have little recourse to halt a military attack on Iran.
The first vote on the Iraq supplemental bill could happen as early as Thursday, March 15. Please call your Representative today with this request:
As a person of faith, I am very concerned about the possibility of a military attack on Iran. Please call on the House leadership to include language in the Iraq supplemental bill to require the President to seek Congress' approval before launching a military attack on Iran.
Call the Capitol Hill Switch board at (202) 224-3121 to be connected to your Representative's office.
The bipartisan Iraq study group argues that the U.S. must engage in diplomatic negotiations with Iran to prevent a war. Religious leaders from a variety of faiths agree: dialogue can bring in a new day in U.S.-Iranian relations. Call your Representative today and help to prevent war with Iran.
For more information:
Teenage girls are preoccupied with a lot of things: "The Gilmore Girls." Makeup tips. Burqas.
At least that's the teenager Muslim Girl magazine, a bimonthly aimed at 12- to 19-year-old Muslim females, is targeting.
The glossy, published by Toronto-based Execugo, is the ultimate hybrid: a mag for and about both regular teenagers and one of the country's least covered minorities.
It's not every mag that offers a "Relationship Reality Check" alongside "Qur'an Notes" ("Girls talk about the small kindnesses in their lives"); a Web feature called "Girl Space" that asks readers to "write in and tell us how girl-friendly your mosque is," or a "hot list" of pop-cultural trends ("Smallville," "Veronica Mars," and, of course, those "Gilmore" ladies).
The mag, which has already pubbed two issues and is aiming for a circulation of 50,000, does contain more straightforward features, like one about a Muslim girls basketball team.
It's not that the mag's readers don't read Seventeen, says editor-in-chief Ausma Khan; they're just deprived of mags with Muslim content.
But is there a conflict between trying to blend, say, gushings about Justin Timberlake and the teachings of Mohammed?
"It's a challenge because we're conscious of a deeper mission," says Khan. "But we also want girls to be attracted to the magazine."
The Lighthouse Series is an initiative launched by the Legacy Institute in order to begin addressing some of the issues facing the youth in our communities. A mixture of education, recreation, and teambuilding, these programs aim to uplift the youth while also strengthening their ability to address the challenges they face. The mission behind this initiative is the following:
The youth of Islam today will ensure the future of Islam tomorrow. We must make sure that we provide the opportunity to succeed as one ummah, united and strong, under the banner of Islam. Some of our goals include the following:
- To carry out recreational, educational, spiritual, and charitable Islamic activities.
- To provide attractive and viable alternatives to un-Islamic activities.
- To foster mentorship and brotherhood/sisterhood between younger and older youth.
- To instill respect for parents, families, and elders.
- To strengthen the faith and practice of Muslim youth, allowing them to develop a strong Islamic identity.
- To develop Islamic leadership and unity among Muslims for the future.
- To establish a positive healthy image of Islam in the Indianapolis area through the Muslim youth.
~ Please note: This program is for students ages 14 -18 only ~
More information will be provided during the first session. We look forward to seeing you there!
MOTIVATION. PREPARATION. ACTION.
GET READY FOR THE NEW LIGHTHOUSE SERIES
For more information, please contact lighthouse@legacyin.org or call 317-842-7300.
Legacy Institute
9721 Kincaid Dr
Fishers, IN 46037
317-842-7300
info@legacyin.org
www.legacyin.org
Muslim Charity Works Campaign
Counsel for Nonprofits & Charitable Giving
Muslim Advocates is pleased to announce that it is seeking to fill a newly created position: a full-time attorney to lead its Muslim Charity Works Campaign.
Created in 2005 by the National Association of Muslim Lawyers, Muslim Advocates seeks to promote and protect equality, liberty, and justice for all, regardless of faith, by using the tools of legal advocacy, policy engagement, and education, and by serving as a legal resource to promote the full participation of Muslims in American civic life. In pursuit of this mission, Muslim Advocates established the Muslim Charity Works (MCW) Campaign to strengthen Muslim nonprofit institutions, reduce unfair law enforcement scrutiny of Muslim nonprofits, and promote Muslim charitable giving and philanthropy.
The Counsel for Nonprofits and Charitable Giving will provide education and training to nonprofit staff through the creation of educational materials, providing technical advice, and hosting seminars on nonprofit governance, transparency and legal compliance. A substantial part of the campaign will be to provide guidance to qualifying nonprofits as they seek recognized seals of approval for good governance and effective operations. The MCW Campaign also envisions the creation of educational materials and a website to inform prospective donors about the law and Muslim nonprofit organizations. The Counsel will work closely with The Aspen Institute - a renowned center dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership, timeless ideas and values, and open-minded dialogue - which is partnering with Muslim Advocates to promote dialogue with policymakers, the broader U.S. nonprofit sector, the media and other key stakeholders.
The Counsel will work at our office in San Francisco under the direction and leadership of our Executive Director and the Muslim Advocates Charities Advisory Committee, which is comprised of over a dozen lawyers with expertise in corporate and nonprofit governance and legal compliance.
Interested individuals should submit via email by no later than April 20, 2007, a resume, 2 writing samples (preferably a short and long piece), list of 3 references, and a cover letter describing the candidate's skills, experience and interest in the position. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as applications will be considered as they are received. We are seeking candidates with a J.D. degree, at least 2-3 years of legal experience, strong writing skills, demonstrated leadership and initiative. Corporate, tax, financial regulatory or nonprofit governance experience is preferred.
Please direct the application and any questions to (202)448-9978 or farhana@muslimadvocates.org.
For more information about Muslim Advocates, please visit: www.muslimadvocates.org
From Imam Michael "Mikal" Saahir (Panel Member)
You are invited to attend a forum of local African American religious leaders on April 14, 2007, from 12 - 2 in University Place Conference Center.
Participants will include Father Boniface Hardin, Martin University; Evangelist Kandy Morrell, Living Water Apostolic Church; Imam Michael Saahir, Nur-Allah Islamic Center; and Rev. Angelique Walker-Smith, The Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis.
These leaders will discuss key questions in the African American religious experience-from the African elements of black religions to the political aspects of African American religious life-based on their knowledge of local African-American religious groups.
Lunch is free for all in attendance, but everyone must make a reservation by April 10 by contacting Debbie Dale (ddale@iupui.edu).
This forum, part of a larger national conference on Arthur Huff Fauset's Black Gods of the Metropolis, is supported in part by a grant from the American Academy of Religion.
Dr. Edward Curtis
Associate Professor of Religious Studies &
Millennium Scholar of the Liberal Arts
425 University Blvd., Cavanaugh 335
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Phone: (317) 278-1683
Fax: (317) 278-3354
MUSLIM ALLIANCE OF INDIANA is dedicated to empower Muslims through social engagement and developing awareness of public issues among Muslims and connecting 280,000 Muslim Hoosiers with the leadership.
To learn more about past activities and accomplishments, please visit at www.muslimalliancein.com
To be involved with MAI mission, please contact muslimalliancein@yahoo.com
To strengthen and disseminate the vision, please forward this message to others in Indiana or send email list to muslimalliancein@yahoo.com
This is intended for Muslim Hoosiers and friends promoting peace and harmony, mutual respect and making Indiana strong. If you want to be off this list, please advise.
Thank you.
